The Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks are two teams looking to make a big move ahead of the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline.
In recent days L.A. has been linked to one of the league’s best sharpshooters, a former Sixth Man of the Year winner, and a 3-team swap.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, has been connected to one of the best players available on the market this year. Whether they have the assets to get him or not has been the subject of much scrutiny.
That being said, earlier this week reports surfaced that these two teams also have their eye on the same role player heading into the NBA Trade Deadline.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Lakers and Bucks are both extremely interested in Marcus Smart of the Memphis Grizzlies.
“While several clubs — including the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, sources said — have phoned Memphis about obtaining defensive stalwart Marcus Smart, the Grizzlies have shut down any overtures for the veteran guard,” he wrote.
It is hard not to view Memphis’ position as a bit of posturing, particularly in light of their recent Steven Adams trade.
Smart was brought in to bridge the gap between Ja Morant’s suspension-related absence and his inevitable return. When Morant got hurt, the Grizzlies’ season effectively ended.
They have zero use for Smart now.
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While it is debatable how much Smart would help either the Lakers or Bucks now, he would certainly do something.
One way or another, clearly L.A. and Milwaukee are looking to be active over the next week.
Will either the Lakers or Bucks come away with Smart ahead of the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline? Time will tell.
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A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
